Strawberry plant named ‘Jive’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Strawberry plant named ‘Jive’, characterized by its compact and semi-upright plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; uniform fruit ripening; large conical fruits that are glossy and red in color; pleasant fruit aroma and taste; excellent fruit postharvest longevity; and resistance to Mildew pathogens.

Botanical designation: Fragaria×ananassa.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JIVE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Strawberry plant, botanically known as Fragaria×ananassa and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Jive’.

The new Strawberry plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Elst, Gelderland, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new early-ripening Strawberry plants with good fruit quality, ease of harvesting, good postharvest longevity and resistance to pathogens.

The new Strawberry plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the spring of 2004 of a proprietary Strawberry selection identified as code name E1998-142, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Strawberry selection identified as code name E1997-054, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Strawberry plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Elst, Gelderland, The Netherlands during the summer of 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Strawberry plant by cuttings in a controlled environment at Elst, Gelderland, The Netherlands since the autumn of 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Strawberry plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Strawberry have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Jive’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Jive’ as a new and distinct Strawberry plant:

-   -   1. Compact and semi-upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Uniform fruit ripening.     -   4. Large conical fruits that are glossy and red in color.     -   5. Pleasant fruit aroma and taste.     -   6. Excellent fruit postharvest longevity.     -   7. Resistant to Mildew pathogens.

Plants of the new Strawberry differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Strawberry have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of female parent selection.     -   2. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are glossier than         fruits of plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Strawberry and the female parent selection         differ in fruit color as plants of the female parent selection         have dark red-colored fruits.

Plants of the new Strawberry differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Strawberry have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are conical in shape         whereas fruits of plants of the male parent selection are         flattened.     -   3. Plants of the new Strawberry and the male parent selection         differ in fruit color as plants of the male parent selection         have orange-colored fruits.

Plants of the new Strawberry can be compared to plants of Strawberry ‘Sonata’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,000. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Strawberry differed from plants of ‘Sonata’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Strawberry were more upright than plants of         ‘Sonata’.     -   2. Plants of the new Strawberry were larger and more vigorous         than plants of ‘Sonata’.     -   3. Plants of the new Strawberry had larger leaves than plants of         ‘Sonata’.     -   4. Plants of the new Strawberry flowered later than plants of         ‘Sonata’.     -   5. Plants of the new Strawberry produced larger fruits than         plants of ‘Sonata’.     -   6. Plants of the new Strawberry and ‘Sonata’ differed in fruit         color as plants of ‘Sonata’ produced orange-colored fruits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Strawberry plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Strawberry plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of typical fruiting plants of ‘Jive’ grown in a hydroponic system.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical developing and fully opened flowers of ‘Jive’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of typical developing and developed fruits of ‘Jive’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring and summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Eck en Wiel, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Strawberry production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 23° C. and night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 12° C. Plants were 2.5 months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Fragaria×ananassa ‘Jive’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Fragaria×ananassa identified as code name E1998-142, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Fragaria×ananassa identified as code name E1997-054, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About two             weeks at soil temperatures ranging from 18° to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness to thick, fibrous;             creamy white to white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial; compact and semi-upright             plant habit; leaves basal; moderately vigorous to vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 25 to 30 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 35 to 40 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Basal rosette; compound with typically three             leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaflet length.—About 9 to 12 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 8 to 11 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Obtuse to acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Obtuse to rounded.         -   Leaflet margin.—Serrated to lobed.         -   Leaflet texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Leaflet texture, lower surface.—Pubescent, rough.         -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             137A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138A.             Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to between             137A and 139A; venation, close to 144C. Fully expanded             leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to             144C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 9 to 15 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 to             5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Rotate flowers arranged             singly at lateral apices; flowers held at the foliar plane.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in April and May in             The Netherlands.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 to 3.5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of six petals; petals             imbricate. Length: About 8 mm to 12 mm. Width: About 8 mm to             12 mm. Shape: Round to broadly ovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155D. When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155D.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement and calyx description: Single whorl of             eight to twelve sepals; calyx, star-shaped; sepals are             orientated horizontal to upwards from the fruit. Length:             About 5 mm to 8 mm. Width: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate to ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 cm to 10 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm             to 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close             to 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm             to 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close             to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 25.             Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate to             elliptic. Anther color: Close to 14B. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 15C. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: About 30. Pistil length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Stigma             shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 5A. Fruits:             Postharvest longevity: Long, about ten days at temperatures             about 7° C. Length: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 3 cm             to 6 cm. Shape: Conical. Typical fruit weight per fruit:             About 19.3 grams. Observed fruit weight per fruit: About             26.6 grams. Typical fruit weight per plant: About 1,280             grams. Observed fruit weight per plant: About 1,463 grams.             Firmness: Firm. Fragrance, taste: Pleasant; good balance             between sweetness and acidity. Luster: Glossy. Surface             unevenness: Absent or very weak. Color, surface: Close to             43A. Color, flesh: Close to 33B. Achene position: Level with             fruit surface; under stress conditions, achenes are             extruded. Achene color: At early fruiting stage, close to             1B; with maturity, color is closer to 178B. -   Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new Strawberry have been     observed to be resistant to Mildew pathogens and to be moderately     resistant to Phytophthora cactorum. Plants of the new Strawberry     have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens     common to Strawberry plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Strawberry plant named ‘Jive’ as illustrated and described. 